The Evan Bouchard extension has not yet occurred but we know it is coming soon. All of the reports seem to suggest that Bouchard is going to sign a two year deal, likely between 3.8 and 3.9 million per season. That is the best the Oilers can hope to achieve at this point, short of trading someone like Warren Foegele and try and push a longer term extension.
Originally I looked at the Oilers roster and thought there was an opportunity to be able to run a full 23 man roster. Now it is looking far more likely that the Oilers will be once again running a 21 man roster.
Here are the locks for the Oilers roster next season:
FORWARDS McDavid Draisaitl RNH Kane Hyman Foegele McLeod Brown Ryan
DEFENSE Nurse Ekholm Bouchard Kulak Ceci
GOALTENDING Skinner Campbell
Then you have the "almost a lock players"
FORWARDS Holloway Janmark
DEFENSE Broberg Desharnais
Lastly, the players that will need to push for a roster spot and surpass some of the above names in order to make the roster.
FORWARDS Lavoie Caggiula Pederson
DEFENSE Niemelainen
Aside from a bigger surprise like Bourgault, Savoie, Tulio, or Kemp returning these are the main names to be watching through training camp. My best guess today, the opening night roster looks something like this:
Kane-McDavid-Brown RNH-Draisaitl-Hyman Foegele-McLeod-Ryan Janmark-Holloway-Lavoie
Ekholm-Bouchard Nurse-Ceci Kulak-Desharnais Broberg
Skinner Campbell
This gives the Oilers the flexibility on the blueline to run 7 defenders, likely swapping Broberg for Desharnais depending on what the need is on the blueline (more physicality vs a better puck mover).
The bad news is that this locks Edmonton into a 12 man forward group without the opportunity to have a 13th forward. While that is not optimal it doesn't hurt the Oilers as much as it would other teams as Jay Woodcroft prefers to run the 11/7 format.
Right now I have Holloway, Janmark, and Lavoie making the team which isn't a bold statement. Janmark was signed to an extension because Woodcroft liked his work on the PK. Holloway and Lavoie have both shown that they don't have much else to learn from the AHL with Lavoie needing to clear waivers in order to be sent down. At least to begin the season, Woodcroft and Holland are going to want to see what they have in these guys.
The roster is looking almost completely set and September can't come soon enough.
Thanks for reading!